Sealer tube mechanism with vibrating tool



Sept. 20, 1949. R. L.. KAAS sEALER TUBE MECHANTSM WITH VIBRATING TooL Filed July 24, 1944 INVENTOR ROBERT L. KAAS BY I Q ATTORNEY Wala Patented Sept. 20, 1949 SEALER TUBE MECHANISM WITH VIBRATING TOOL Robert L. Kaas, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to The Garrett Corporation, Aresearch Manufacturing Company division, Los Angeles, Calif., a

corporation of California Application July 24, 1944, Serial No. 546,406 1 Claim. (Cl. 153-79) This invention relates generally to the art of securing tubes to supporting plates or the like, and more particularly to improvements in securing the ends of hollow tubes in cooperating openings provided in end plates of an intercooler especially adapted for use on aircraft. Intercoolers are usually made up of great numbers of thin hollow metal tubes disposed in banks by end plates and intermediate plates having circular openings through which the tubes pass and in which the tubes are individually secured. Inasmuch as the tubes in an intercooler are subject to great stresses, both inside and outside the tube, by reason of their dual function of separating two independent flows of fluid in heat exchange relation under high velocity, it is important, therefore, that each tube be connected to its associated plate in a manner to effectively withstand these stresses and prevent vibrations.

At the presnet time, there are different ways in which the tubes are secured to the openings in the plates, such as the use of balls, but this method has the objection of enlarging the size of the tube. Another method resides in rotating a tool at the open end -of the tube to flare out the tube or spin the end of the tube outwardly into engagement with the plate, but this has the further objection of thinning the wall of the tube at the point of connection, thus resulting in a relatively weak joint. It is, therefore, one of the objects of the present invention to provide a tool of special design capable of disposition in the open end of a tube and imparting movement which will produce a swedged end on the tube for effective- 1y connecting the tube to the end plate without the objectionable results of the prior methods.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tool of the character referred to which is adapted for mounting on the column of a drill press and utilization made of the rotation of its shaft to eifect a reciprocation of the tool for swedging the end of the tube to the plate.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tool of the character referred to em.- bodied in a housing with provision for removable mounting on the column of a drill press without in any manner modifying the parts of or affecting its function as a drill press when the housing is removed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tool of the character referred to embodied in a housing and having cam means operatlvely associated with the rotatable shaft of a drill press and tool, respectively, the cam means being so arranged that rotation of the shaft is f section to more clearly translated into reciprocation of the tool for swedging the end of the tube to the plate.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tool of the character referred to embodied in a housing removably mounted on the column of a drill press and having means for connecting to the column in such a manner as to afford utilization of the manual control on the press for lowering and raising the column, thereby eiecting a like movement of the housing for positioning the tool in and out of the operative engagement with the end of the tube.

A final object of the present invention is to provide a tool of the character referred to which iS ample in construction, eiiicient in operation, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With the objects above indicated and other objects hereinaiter explained in view, my invention consists in the construction and combination of elements hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side fragmentary view of a drill press of standard construction and shows the improved tube sealing device embodying the invention suitably mounted thereon with an intercooler supported on the adjustable base of the press in operative relation. Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the improved tube sealing device and has portions thereof in illustrate the details of the construction.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and shows the manner of connecting the tool to the housing to afford relative movement in an axial direction but prevent relative rotation.

Fig. 4 is a transverse fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 and shows the manner in which the tool housing is removably connected to the column of the drill press.

Fig. 5 is a transverse fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2 and shows the manner in Vwhich the tool is provided with means having a portion shaped to be wedgingly disposed in the cooperating opening in the rotatable shaft on the drill press.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2 and shows the relative position of the tool housing and cam assembly, portions being broken away to show the manner in which the relatively movable parts are likewise lubricated.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 1-1 in Fig. 2 and shows the tool in its raised position, or opposite to that shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View of a tube, ferrule, and end plate of an intercooler of modified lform, and shows the end .of .the tube and ferrule after the swedging operation of the tool.

The tube sealing device is indicated generally by the numeral iii, and is adapted for removable mounting on the column Il of :la -standard drill press I2. The drill press I2 is illustratedmore or less diagrammatically, inasmuch as the outward designs vary considerably with .the different manufacturers. They all include, however, a shaft I3 rotatably mounted in the upper head portion oi the press and have a driving means usually in the form of a pulley 1M and #belt gIll' for effecting suitable rotation of the shaft. .The column I I is slidably and non-rotatably mounted in the customary manner in the upper head portion of the press and has a central .opening I5 in which the adjacent portion 4of the shaft is rotatably disposed. The shaft I3 is connected in the usual manner to the column I I of the drill press, so asto afford unitary movement in opposite axial directions without interfering with the shaits rotation. To efect this unitary movement ofthe shaft and column, a manually operated lever It is pivotally mounted on the outside of the head Vportion of the drill press and generally actuates the cooperating pinion and rack assembly Yenclosed in the head portion. Adjustable stops are also provided `to limit the unitary movement in both directions. The shait I3 at its `lower end I3a lis of slightly larger diameter to provide an annular shoulder ISD for'engagement with the lower inner vface of the column I I which may be utilized to limit 'the relative axial movement in-one direction anda tapered .opening Il of standard Morse taper extends axially inward from its lower end for a substantial distance, A'the linner lend -of the opening I'i terminating in a slot i8 disposed trans- Aversely of the axis. This opening Il 'is -of uni- `versal'application to adapt the end of the shaft I 3 'for quicliinsertion and removal of diierent sized drills having-common tapers. The Astructure thus far described has no bearing on the Ypresent invention other than its embodiment thereon, `and is lcommon to 4many types of drill presses, one A'of which is shown diagrammatically for -a clearer understanding of the present invention.

Thetubesealing device I 'includesa'housng I9,

4of metal, having an annular wall 20 'disposediin a` generaily vertical rposition-asrmoreclearly shown :in Figs. 1 `and 3, andisopen at its upper end 2| but closed at its lower end by a =wall 22 ywhich Vextends transversely across thebottom. A circular boss 123 projects centrally outward-a suitable distance fromthe wa'll22 and has a bore 24 eX- tendingaxially'inwardlthrough the boss-and wall Albushing of .wall .of the bore @2li and y:extends outwardly to adjacent the end of the b,oss23. rlhebushingis further formed withan annular flange .21 projecting .laterally .outward at .the upperlend .of f the :tubular portion tand abuts the inner adjacent face of the wall?? .to holdthebushing.inproper position. Asimilar'tubular portion "28 projects axially upwardlyirom the upper si'de .ofthe 'flange "lbut of slightly reduced diameter `toprovide an annular shoulder 29 and is shorter in length.

A cylindricalitool holder vof drill -rod material, lhas 'a mid-"portion 3'I of a diameter vto readily slide within the lower tubular portion 26 of the bushing in which it is disposed, but is prevented from relative rotation by a key and slot connection Sla. The tool holder at its upper end is Vprovided with a portion 32 of reduced diameter to slidably t within the vadjacent portion 28 of the bushing and provides a shoulder 33 which is adapted for abutment with the adjacent shoulder '2Q to limit upward movement of the tool holder. The extreme "upper end of the tool holder is fici-med with a portion 3d of reduced diameter, which projects beyond the upper tubular portion Ell .to provide an annular shoulder 35 and is externally screwfthreaded. The tool holder at its lower end is liurther -formed with a portion 35, of reduced diameter and extends downwardly through *the opening 2l inthe boss and in spaced relation to the [tubular portion Z6. The portion 36 is provided with an opening which extends axially inward for a desired distance from its free .end to removably receive the shank B of a swedging tool te. 'The 'lower'portion 3S of the 'tool holder is provided Vwith. a'tapped opening disposedlateraliy Vto the vshank 2.8 `to receive a setscrew :d0 by which the 'tool `is vsecured in operating position. The tool 39 lhas an annular tapered ,portion d'2 for engagement with the end .of a tube to eiect swedging of the latter in a manner 'to be 'later described. From 'the lower end portion t2 'depends a stern Stia of Areduced diameter, said stem terminating in lan enlarged generally 'spherical head iI of such 'size as vto `lit into the adjacent 'end of a tube for properly centering or aligning the tube with respect lto said annular tapered portion e2.

Any suitable vmeans may be'employed ior'trans- 'lating the rotary movement of the shaft :I3 Jto reciprocating movement of the tool 39,but a novel and simple construction is shown inthe drawings. A lower 'ca-m Amember 43 rhas a Vcircular base or 'flange ei-fildisposed horizontally above the housing -wall 22 -and has an-axial opening l5 to rotatably receive the upper -tubular portion 28 or the ^bushingon-whichitis mounted. A tubular extension @t `projects upwardly from 'the ybase and is disposed in encircling relation -about the YAtubular portion'23, theftop 'faceof-the extension libeing formed-with acam surface inthe `forrn'of crowns JW andvalleys. -In the present instance there are Afour of the latter arranged Valternately Vand spacedvapart-angularly about the axis. Thecam valleys-are'llJ and the cam crowns 30 to their Lmating tangent lines. 'The base 'd'4 is also -provided with Yopenings 49 I.on -diametrically opposite sides which-are rcounterborz-idat5i) von their under sides. VThe `cam member 143 Iis further provided with Ya v'plurality of openings, not shown -but reyferred to hereinafter, extending radially Ainward from @its outer periphery to -the `cam rface for lubrication -of the latter.

Anupper cam member 52 is similar -tothelower cam member 43 `and includes a circular 1base or 1:flange 53 disposed horizontally -above the -base 44. 1Ihe'base53 is -formed with an axialopening 4`5`Ilfof the same-diameterfin axial valignment -with vthe-'opening 45. A tubularextension 55 projects Ydownw-ardy a-'suitable distance from thebase and fits llower iface is VVformed with a -cam surface in the form of crowns 56 and valleys 571 varranged lalternately and spaced apart-angularly about the axis. The 'ibase 5'3 fis also provided .with openings extending vradially inward AVfrom fits outer periphery to the cam faces for lubrication of the latter, the base 44 having similar openings; It Vwill `be noted that the cam members'43 and 52 arernade identical so that they may be interchanged, thus simplifying manufacture and. assembly.

A spacer sleeve 6 I of metal or similar material, is disposed between the lower base 44 and the upper base 52 of the respective cam members.

VThe tubular extensions 46 and 55 project freely into the opposite ends of the sleeve 6I. The spacer 6I is counterbored slightly at 63 on its opposite end faces to receive and definitely position the adjacent portion of the bases 44 and 52, as more clearly shown in Fig. 2. The spacer 6I is likewise provided with openings 64 on diametrically opposite sides and adapted for axial alignment with respective openings in the bases of the cam members. The spacer is further formed with an annular groove 65 which extends radially outward to provide a peripheral wall portion 66 of reduced section, and tubular members 61 extend inwardly at an angle into the annular groove 65 through openings 68 provided in the peripheral wall on diametrically opposite sides, for purpose of lubrication,v as more clearly shown in Fig. 6. 1

A reciprocable cam member 69, of circular shape, is disposed between the tubular extensions 46 and 55 of the cam members and has an axially extending opening 'I0 internally screwthreaded for secure but removable mounting on the threaded end 34 of the tool holder, the opening 10 being counterbored to provide ashoulder for abutment with the shoulder on the tool holder for connecting the two members together for unitary reciprocation in a manner to be later explained. The cam member 69 has end faces 1I and 12 on opposite sides, which constitute cam surfaces in the form of crowns and valleys. In the present instance there are four of the latter engaged alternatelyand spaced apartv angularly `about the axis. The same number and arrangement are on both ends of the reciprocable cam member 69, but the corresponding cam contours must Vbe directly opposite each other, as is more clearly shown in Fig. 1. The cam surface 1I of the reciprocable cam member cooperatively engages the cam surface of the lower rotatable'cam member 43, While the cam surface 12 of the reciprocable cam member cooperatively engages the upper rotatable cam member 52 for a purpose to be later explained. While four crowns and valleys are here employed to obtain the desired relation between the R. P. M. of the shaft and the reciprocations of the tool per minute, which are about 4 to 1, for other conditions the number may vary without affecting the operation of the device in any manner.

An adapter member 16, of metal or similar material, rests upon the base 53. The adapter mem-- ber 16 has a circular extension 11 which is disposed in the upper adjacent end of the opening 54 for suitably positioning the adapter and upper cam member. The adapter member 'I6 is further provided with openings 18 on diametrically opposite sides, which are positioned for axial alignment with the similarly spaced openings on the base 53, Bolts 'I9 have heads 80 positioned in the counterbores and Shanks extending upwardly through the aligned openings in the lower base 49, the spacer 66, the upper member 52, and the adapter base 16, the upper free ends being exteriorly screwthreaded to receive nuts 8| which, when turned home, draw all the cam elements into cooperating relation to afford unitary rotation.

VStuds 82 may be used for locking the nutsV against accidental loosening. The adapter member 16has an extension 83 on its outer side which projects rotation. Y

A cover member 85'has a circular flange 86 which is removably mounted on the end wallof the-:housing I9 and is formed with an annular centering extension 81 on its under side for snugly tting the inner adjacent wall 20. The flange 86 and the adjacent end of the annular wall 20 are provided with aligned openings, those in the annular wall being screwthreaded to removably receive a plurality ofmachine screws 88 spaced apart angularly. The cover member 85 is further provided with a tubular extension 89 which projects axiallyupward and encircles the lower'end I3a of the shaft I3. The inner peripheral wall of the extension 89 is of enlarged diameter at its upper end to removably receive the lower portion of the column II and the position of the column is determined by an annular shoulder 90 on the inner peripheral wall withk which the end of the column abuts. At the lower end of the column I I, an annular groove 9| is` formed, to receive av packing ring 92 to prevent thepassage of oil thereby. The upper end of the tubular extension 89 is formed to square cross section as indicated by 93, to facilitate the embodiment of a simple means of attachment to the column II. An opening 94 is drilled through the end 93 inwardly from its free end and extends from one face to the opposite, preferably parallel with the other end faces, The opening 94 is so disposed that its axis passesv substantially at a tangent to the column II, thus exposing an arcuate portion 95 of the latter, kas more'clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The opening 94 is counterbored at 96 at its outer ends andinternally screwthreaded. Pins 91 are removably disposed in the opposite ends of the opening`94 andtheir inner ends are out to conform with the adjacent arcuate portions 95 with which they-engage.

VThreaded plugs 98 are removably inserted in the bores 96 and are employed to exert pressure on thepins 91 for securing the upper end of the cam member to the column I I. The arrangement is used on the opposite side of the column and the opening 99 is preferably positioned in parallel relation with the opening 94, as more clearly shown in Fig. 2. It is unnecessary to describe the other connection in detail again, other than to state it is so positioned that the load is divided therebetween.

It is desirable that the relatively movable parts of the tube sealing device be suitably lubricated and for this reason the housing I9 is filled with oil or similar lubricant. The annular wall 26 is provided with an opening Illil extending transversely therethrough, and near its upper end the opening is internally screwthreaded to receive a removable threaded plug IDI which can be removed When the lubricant is to be added. A similar opening |02 is provided in the annular Awall 20 but is located adjacent the bottom wall 22 and is internally screwthreaded to receive a removable threaded plug Ill3 which is provided to afford removal of the oil in the housing or to check whether or not the oil is present. At the end of the boss 23, the opening 24 is formed with a counterbore '24a to receive an annular oil and iluid seal member. IM which .has `a exble lring 1.95 in encircling engagement with the adjacent Jwall of the portion 36 `on the tool holder in :a 'manner to prevent the passage .of lubricant thereby.

Due to the detailed description .of the device only a brief explanation of its operation will follow. With the tube .securing device .i6 mounted on the column H of a drill press, operation of the press results in the rotation .of its shaft i3.

'I'his in turn causes unitary rotation of the cam vmembers 52 and 43 with their respective `cam `faces through their unit assembly. Inasmuchxas the shaft I3 is held against longitudinally translative movement the .cam members are .conned to rotating movement in predetermined planes. The rotary movement of the cam members .52 and .43 on opposite sides of the reciprocable cam member 69 and their cooperating cam faces 7i and 12, effects reciprocation of the reciprocable cam `member and its associated tool holder, by reason of the latter being secured against rotary movement by .key and .slot connection 31a. As the tool 39 is secured to the end of the tool holder, the tool is likewise reciprocated.

An i-ntercooler I is supported on a base of the Ypress below the device I and the device 4is lowered by operation of the hand lever I6. This downward movement continues until the head 4| of the tool 39 is positioned in the vend of the `tube T which is ldisposed in an opening in an end plate .Pmore clearly shown in Fig. 2. vReciprocation :of the tool 39 swedges the lend of the tube by means :of the .tapered portion 42 into contact with the end plate. The same operation takes place when a ferrule F is used, as shown in Fig. '8.

The lowering movement of the device is Vlimited s0 that the tool cannot be moved to such a, position that it would damage theend of the tube during the swedging operation and the reciprocation of the tool is likewise limi-ted so that the Vend of the tube is eiectively connected to the end `plate without materially changing the physical properties of the tube. The ldevice is vdesigned to -swedge the end of one tube at a time, and 'must be elevated and lowered inthe A'foregoing manner for each tube secured.

Wfhiile I have described the preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be Aunderstood that 'I am not to be limited thereto inasmuch as changes and modifications may be resorted to without ldeparting from the spirit of the invention as deiined in the appended claim.

I claim .as my invention:

In a device for 'securing the ends vof thin-'walled hollow tubes in openings provided therefor in end plates of heat exchangers, comprising: a tool having a shank anda shoulder .adjacent one end thereof a stem of reduced vdiameter extending axially from said shoulder and terminating in an enlarged generally spherical head, said head be. ing of smaller diameter than the shank and adaptedto fully enter the end of the thin-walled tube to be secured to said end plate; and mechanism' for causing rapid longitudinal yvibration of the tool to effect sealing of .the tube end.

ROBERT L. KAAS REFERENCES CITED lThe following references are of yrecord in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 687,408 Scott et al. Nov. 26, 1901 893,258 Mills July 14, 1908 1,048,683 Gooch Dec. 31, 1912 1,283,135 For-tin Oct. 29, 1-918 1,494,109 Griner May 13, -1924 1,505,493 Roberts Aug. 19, 1924 1,753,677 Andresen Apr. 8, 1930 1,807,025 Boyd May '26, 1931 1,827,733 Cornell Oct. `20, 1931 1,866,529 Farkas July 12, 1932 1,924,946 Kott Aug. 29, 1933 1,948,409 Weibull' Feb. 20, 1934 2,016,795 Belknap Oct. 8, 1935 2,088,131 yCambeis July 27, 1937 2,105,762 Zimmerman Jan. 18, 1938 2,169,697 Kangas Aug. 15, 1939 2,309,249 Karp Jan. 25, 1943 V2,412,211 Eichelman Dec. `10, '1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 462,666 Great Britain Ma-r. 9, 1937 489,248 Great Britain July '22, '1938 OTHER REFERENCES The Iron Age, .June 1943 Issue, pp. v485'1, pub. by ChiltonfCo., New York, New York.

Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,482,490 September 20, 1949 ROBERT L. KAAS It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 8, line 33, list of references cited, after 1,866,529 Farkas July 12, 1932 insert 1,924,383 Stampji Aug. 2.9, 1.933;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read With this correction therein that the same rnay conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofhce.

Slgned and sealedthis 21st day of February, A. D. 1950.

[SEAL] THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner ofPatena. 

